What the study found
The study found that, across countries and family types, higher perceived stigmatization was associated with greater child dysregulation. Parental self-efficacy in socializing children about family diversity moderated this link, with stigmatization predicting dysregulation mainly when parents felt less confident.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the findings point to modifiable within-family resources, rather than family structure, as possible levers of well-being under stigma. They conclude that family diversity socialization self-efficacy may be a protective factor and a target for clinical and policy support.
What the researchers tested
This cross-cultural dyadic study examined how perceived stigmatization, parental self-efficacy in socializing children about family diversity and assisted conception, and LGBTQ+ community connectedness relate to children’s dysregulation in lesbian mother and gay father families. Parents from 263 families in Belgium, France, Israel, Italy, and the Netherlands completed questionnaires that were analyzed with multilevel models.
What worked and what didn't
Higher perceived stigmatization was associated with greater child dysregulation. Parental self-efficacy for family diversity socialization moderated this association, while assisted conception socialization self-efficacy and LGBTQ+ community connectedness showed no significant main effects.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail. The findings come from questionnaire data from lesbian mother and gay father families with children aged 3–11 years in five countries, so the summary is limited to that sample and design.
Key points
- The study included 526 parents from 263 families in Belgium, France, Israel, Italy, and the Netherlands.
- Higher perceived stigmatization was linked with greater child dysregulation.
- Parental confidence in socializing children about family diversity moderated the stigma-dysregulation association.
- Assisted conception socialization self-efficacy showed no significant main effect.
- LGBTQ+ community connectedness also showed no significant main effect.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Family diversity self-efficacy linked to child dysregulation under stigma
- Authors:
- Gianluca Cruciani, Jacopo Tracchegiani, Henny Bos, Salvatore D’Amore, Geva Shenkman, Loes van Rijn‐van Gelderen, Nicola Carone
- Institutions:
- Families USA, Families USA, Reichman University, Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Pavia, University of Rome Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata
- Publication date:
- 2026-07-06
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- TEBOMSW, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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